Tara Murray
Brimbank Stallions are excited by the challenge of the biggest game in the club’s history on Tuesday night.
The Stallions will face National Premier League powerhouse Avondale for a spot in the final 32 of the nationwide Australia Cup.
The Stallions are one of just three state league sides to make it this far in the Victorian stage of the knockout competition.
Stallions coach Andrew Marth knows they have nothing to lose out there.
“It is a David and Goliath battle,” he said.
“They are the best team in the NPL and I’m great mates with their coach. I rate them extremely highly.
“For us in the last four to five years to have come from division 4 to division 1 and now have a chance to get into the last 32 of the Australia Cup that is a huge achievement.”
Marth is no stranger to the Australia Cup, having coached the Melbourne Knights previously in the competition.
He said there was a group of players who he had coached the Knights, who also knew the magic of the cup.
“The rest of the group hasn’t been this high in the competition,” he said.
“It’s 11 versus 11 on the day and 90 minutes of football. Hopefully we will have a bit of luck.”
The Stallions will be far from full strength for the cup match, with seven senior players out with suspension, injury or overseas.
Marth said they were hopeful to get a couple of players back for the match.
The cup is just one of the focuses for the Stallions, with the side still in the mix for promotion in the state league 1 north-west competition.
The Stallions sit fifth, but there is only one point separating second and fifth.
Marth said while happy with where they were sitting in that competition, it hadn’t been the ideal first part of the season.
“It has been difficult balancing the two competitions,” he said. “They’re a group of amateurs and at times are playing three games in seven days.
“Full credit to the boys. We have backed off training a bit with how many injuries that we have.”
Marth said if the club was to earn promotion in the NPL3 competition, it would be massive for such a small club like the Stallions.
“We haven’t lost any players the last three years, which speaks for the club itself,” he said.
“There’s a really good culture that we put in place. We don’t shy away from the fact we want to get promoted.”
The Stallions are set to face Clifton Hill on Saturday.
Having had draws in their last two matches against the bottom sides, Marth was keen to get the full three points.
“With some of the senior guys out it’s a chance to give some of the younger kids a chance,” he said.
“They’ll definitely play on the weekend and if they play well might have an opportunity to play during the week.”
